Yu Weifeng, furious, burst apart Tang Qianqing's crimson silk with a violent surge of power and staggered back several dozen zhang, his gaze filled with vigilance as it locked onto the immortal artifact in Yao Ranran's hand. A fleeting glimmer of greed flashed deep in his eyes.
"The immortal artifact in Ran Ran's hand… was it forged with supreme-grade spirit stones?"
The moment his words fell, every gaze instantly converged on the Nine Lotus Ring in her grasp.
"An immortal artifact… it really is an immortal artifact!"
Yue Qingsu, Yuan Kong, and Mu Jialing were all dumbstruck.
"An immortal artifact, how could it possibly be an immortal artifact!?"
Yue Qingsu refused to believe Yao Ranran could wield such a thing. Yuan Kong, equally stunned, turned to Tang Qianqing and murmured, "Disciple, strange as it is, your teacher's earlier suspicions were indeed correct!"
Mu Jialing muttered in disbelief, "Master, even I never imagined she would be this formidable…"
Was this truly the same woman he had once met at Yan Fortress?
"If the Western Sea truly comes under the Eastern Wilderness, perhaps it would not be such a bad thing."
Yuan Kong slowly shut his eyes and fingered his prayer beads, quietly chanting scripture.
Mu Jialing stared blankly at Yao Ranran. The punishments he had endured in Guan Fan Temple suddenly felt less bitter compared to this moment.
In such a short time, how had she grown so powerful?
Why could she rise so swiftly?
Who truly was the Fózǐ?
Yao Ranran neither knew nor cared what was in the minds of others.
Raising the Nine Lotus Ring high, she smiled and declared, "First, you have no right to call me Ran Ran. Second, you are not my father. Third, yes—this is indeed my immortal artifact."
Upon hearing her admit it so directly, Yu Weifeng could not help but swallow hard, his eyes glinting slyly.
"You may deny me as your father, but you stole the supreme-grade spirit vein and abducted the Ye family's young master. As your father, how could I not worry for your safety?"
Having seen XIng clan patriarch's miserable fate, he knew he could not contend against Yao Ranran. Though he did not understand how she had become so formidable so suddenly, now that her theft of the supreme-grade spirit vein was exposed, surely the others would not resist the temptation to act.
Indeed, the change he hoped for arose.
As everyone fixated upon the mention of the supreme-grade spirit vein, the immortal artifact in Yao Ranran's hand became an irresistible prize.
Yue Qingsu's eyes burned red with greed. "So the supreme-grade spirit vein is in your possession? Hand it over to me!"
"When did Wuxiang Sect become a sect of thieves?" Tang Qianqing curled her lips in a mocking smile. "When the spirit vein first appeared, your Wuxiang Sect knew nothing. Yet now you seek to rob it? Elder Yue, you are truly shameless and disgraceful!"
She turned deliberately toward Yuan Kong and Mu Jialing, her tone falsely serious. "Master Yuan Kong, Fózǐ of Guan Fan Temple, am I not right?"
Her words caught even Yao Ranran's attention. She turned her gaze on Mu Jialing and gave him a faint smile.
So, he was here as well.
Mu Jialing froze under that smile, then hastily turned his head aside, raising his palm in a formal gesture. "The spirit vein has already transformed into a dragon. It chose Fairy Yao Ranran as its master of its own will. Others should not interfere."
Yuan Kong added, "All things with spirit choose their rightful master. That this Fairy has been chosen only proves her exceptional nature."
"Yes, exactly! Both of you are absolutely correct! Elder Yue truly has no shame!"
Tang Qianqing immediately raised her voice, loudly repeating her own conclusion.
Yuan Kong and Mu Jialing both blinked in confusion.
That was not quite what they had said.
Xiao Rong's eyes went wide as he ran to Yao Ranran's side. "Boss, is this woman one of ours?"
Yao Ranran hesitated. "Maybe?"
Xiao Rong gasped. "So we even have allies in the Central Domain?"
Yao Ranran's tone was uncertain. "Seems like it…"
"Awesome!" Xiao Rong bounced excitedly. "Then let's quickly finish these people off and go to Miao Yun Sect to clear out their treasury!"
Yao Ranran blinked. "Straight to the main point. That actually sounds nice."
Tang Qianqing, still in the middle of loudly scolding Yue Qingsu, suddenly froze as the words reached her ears. Her voice faltered into silence.
Clear out the treasury… Did they mean what she thought they did?
Nervousness pricked at her heart.
Miao Yun Sect had only that meager hoard to sustain it. Why would this Xiānzhǔ, already possessing the supreme-grade spirit vein, still covet their treasury?
If Yao Ranran could hear her thoughts, she would certainly explain the difference clearly.
Having money never meant she did not love money. And besides, treasures hard-won from the hands of others were always more alluring.
Clang!
A blade gleamed coldly behind them. Yao Ranran and Xiao Rong turned with blank expressions to see Xing clan patriarch's spirit weapon bent nearly in half. They tilted their heads slightly.
"So this is what counts as a sneak attack?"
"Isn't it rather pitiful that the clan patriarch's weapon looks this shabby? Boss, maybe we shouldn't bother with them. This clan looks dirt poor!"
Xiao Rong wrinkled his little face, shielding his eyes in disdain.
Truly unbearable to look at.
The proud smile on Xing clan patriarch's lips instantly froze. He stared in horror at the broken fragment of spirit treasure in his hand.
"This is no ordinary weapon! My Xing clan has vast wealth and deep heritage. As patriarch, how could I wield anything less than a spirit treasure?"
Xiao Rong dropped his hand and said with suspicion, "Who are you trying to fool? What kind of spirit treasure breaks just from a little tap?"
The patriarch: "…"
Truthfully, even he could not explain it.
One clang, as if striking the hardest barrier imaginable. His spirit treasure had bent before even touching Yao Ranran's body.
Face darkening, he stabbed again.
"Ah! My hand!"
He fell, rolling on the ground, clutching his only remaining hand and howling in agony.
Seeing this, Yuan Kong hurried forward several steps, stunned. "Could it be… could it be that her robe is also an immortal artifact?"
Mu Jialing's breath caught. "Master, there is not a single refining grandmaster alive today who can forge even one immortal artifact. Yet she possesses two… is it not…"
Was such a thought too outrageous?
He dared not utter his doubt aloud.
Yuan Kong's fingers sped over his beads, betraying his shaken heart.
"Disciple, look carefully. Xing clan patriarch's hand… it is ruined beyond recovery!"
"What?"
This time not only Mu Jialing but even Yue Qingsu stepped closer in shock.
"It really is an immortal artifact robe!"
Yue Qingsu forced out the words, his voice heavy with suppressed desire.
There was no one in existence who did not covet an immortal artifact. No one alive who would not yearn for a robe of immortal quality.
"If I could give that robe to Qiao Qiao, then in all the world, no one would ever be able to harm her again!"
He had spoken his heart's desire the moment he confirmed the robe's nature.
Yuan Kong and Mu Jialing frowned simultaneously, disapproval clouding their faces.
"Elder Yue, the greater your power, the greater grows your greed for external treasures," Yuan Kong admonished.
Mu Jialing added gently, "Immortal artifacts possess spirit. Since it has chosen to protect Fairy Yao Ranran, Elder Yue should not covet it."